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Paris: "Brieuc de Keranflec'h, carpenter: "Notre-Dame was a great experience for everyone".
28 November 2024
Press review
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As Notre-Dame reopens its doors on the weekend of December 7 and 8, we met the people without whom none of this would have been possible: the artisans. Brieuc de Keranflec'h is a carpenter with Ateliers Perrault. He worked on the cathedral's framework for almost two years.
What did your work involve?
We joined the Notre-Dame construction site in December 2022. Our teams first worked on the choir frames. The first job was to cut the logs and square the timber to create the beams for the new frames. After that, we lifted the frames in the workshop courtyard, as they had to be stored upright to preserve them.
Lifting in Paris then took place in August 2023, and installation began with a crane on the choir side, before finishing at the apse. The bouquet of mimosas, marking the end of the project, was laid on January 12, 2024. We also worked on the two belfries to reinforce the lower parts, damaged by fire and damp, with new parts.
On August 30, 2023, the carpenters emotionally lifted the first oak pieces of the choir frame.
Credit Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris
Did you use ancient or modern techniques?
The idea was to restore the frameworks to their original state. To square them, we used an axe, just as we did when they were first created in the 12th and 13th centuries. The axe gives the beams a particular appearance and leaves a mark. Today, this is no longer done, nor are the truss rafters.
We had never done this at Perrault, and had to be trained. It was an exception on the site, but it wasn't Guédelon [a medieval castle built using only the techniques and materials of the period] either! For the rest, we used modern tools.
Brieuc de Keranflec'h, carpenter at Notre-Dame de Paris, during a demonstration of his work.
Credit Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris
How did you feel working on the site?
We didn't necessarily feel any pressure, but we weren't allowed to make any mistakes. Of course, we all felt that it was a very special project. I'm proud to have worked on this project.
When we were craning the cranes, there was sometimes downtime, and from the roof of the cathedral, we thought it was still beautiful. I was on the roof almost every day for a year. We had a view of the monument and of Paris, and it was a great experience for everyone.
Read the article on www.paris.fr
Published on November 28, 2024
